II Samuel 16 Commentary
And when David was a little past the top of the hill, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of asses saddled, and upon them two hundred loaves of bread, and an hundred bunches of raisins, and an hundred of summer fruits, and a bottle of wine.
And the king said unto Ziba, What meanest thou by these? And Ziba said, The asses be for the king’s household to ride on; and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat; and the wine, that such as be faint in the wilderness may drink.
And the king said, And where is thy master’s son? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem: for he said, To day shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father.
Then said the king to Ziba, Behold, thine are all that pertained unto Mephibosheth. And Ziba said, I humbly beseech thee that I may find grace in thy sight, my lord, O king.
And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, thence came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera: he came forth, and cursed still as he came.
And he cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David: and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left.
And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial:
The Lord hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and the Lord hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son: and, behold, thou art taken in thy mischief, because thou art a bloody man.
Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head.
And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? so let him curse, because the Lord hath said unto him, Curse David. Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so?
And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the Lord hath bidden him.
It may be that the Lord will look on mine affliction, and that the Lord will requite me good for his cursing this day.
And as David and his men went by the way, Shimei went along on the hill’s side over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and cast dust.
And the king, and all the people that were with him, came weary, and refreshed themselves there.
And Absalom, and all the people the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him.
And it came to pass, when Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, was come unto Absalom, that Hushai said unto Absalom, God save the king, God save the king.
And Absalom said to Hushai, Is this thy kindness to thy friend? why wentest thou not with thy friend?
And Hushai said unto Absalom, Nay; but whom the Lord, and this people, and all the men of Israel, choose, his will I be, and with him will I abide.
And again, whom should I serve? should I not serve in the presence of his son? as I have served in thy father’s presence, so will I be in thy presence.
Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, Give counsel among you what we shall do.
And Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Go in unto thy father’s concubines, which he hath left to keep the house; and all Israel shall hear that thou art abhorred of thy father: then shall the hands of all that are with thee be strong.
So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house; and Absalom went in unto his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.
And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled in those days, was as if a man had enquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.
II Samuel 16 unveils a chapter of betrayal, cursing, and strategic maneuvering amidst David's flight from Jerusalem. As David flees from his rebellious son Absalom, the chapter highlights the depths of treachery he faces, the surprising reactions he exhibits, and the unfolding political landscape in Jerusalem. This chapter offers profound insights into human nature, divine sovereignty, and the consequences of sin.
Ziba's Deception (II Samuel 16:1-4)
As David continued his eastward flight away from Jerusalem, toward the Jordan River, he was met by Ziba, the former servant of Saul whom David had appointed to serve Jonathan’s son, Mephibosheth (II Samuel 16:1; see also II Samuel 9:1-13). Ziba's arrival was unexpected, prompting David to inquire about his presence and the provisions he brought (II Samuel 16:2). The king had apparently expected to see Mephibosheth himself.
Ziba seized this opportunity to slander Mephibosheth. He falsely claimed that Mephibosheth was staying in Jerusalem, hoping for the restoration of Saul's kingdom (II Samuel 16:3). This was disturbing news to David, as it implied treason. Tragically, David believed Ziba and reversed his earlier decision regarding Saul's estate (see II Samuel 9:9), granting all of Mephibosheth's possessions to Ziba (II Samuel 16:4). This hasty judgment reveals David's vulnerability during this tumultuous time. Later, Mephibosheth would testify that Ziba had slandered him to the king (see II Samuel 19:24-30), highlighting the dangers of acting on incomplete information.
Shimei's Curses (II Samuel 16:5-14)
Further along his sorrowful journey, David encountered Shimei, a man from the family of Saul, who hurled curses and stones at David and his entourage (II Samuel 16:5-6). Shimei accused the fleeing king of being a man of bloodshed and wickedness (II Samuel 16:7), falsely blaming him for the blood of Saul's house (II Samuel 16:8), despite David's innocence in that regard.
Shimei's audacity was astonishing, given David's power. Abishai, one of David's loyal men, was ready to silence Shimei permanently, asking, "Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and remove his head!" (II Samuel 16:9). This was not the first time Abishai had urged David to take violent action (see I Samuel 26:7-11).
However, David demonstrated remarkable restraint and spiritual insight. He recognized Shimei's cursing as a potential rebuke from God, which he felt he needed to hear (II Samuel 16:10). Despite not being guilty of shedding Saul's blood, David acknowledged his own sin and guilt (see II Samuel 11:14-27). Moreover, David reasoned that if his own son was seeking his life, enduring the insults of this man was a lesser burden (II Samuel 16:11). This profound humility and acceptance of God's will in the midst of adversity is a powerful example for us all. After a long and exhausting march, David and his people rested (II Samuel 16:14).
Absalom's Occupation of Jerusalem (II Samuel 16:15-23)
Back in Jerusalem, Absalom and his Israelite followers arrived in what must have been a smug and triumphant parade (II Samuel 16:15). Ahithophel, David's former trusted advisor who had turned traitor, was at Absalom's side. Securing Ahithophel's allegiance was a major victory for Absalom, as Ahithophel's counsel was highly regarded, "like someone asking about a word from God" (II Samuel 16:23). However, God was about to thwart his counsel and use it against Absalom.
David had a few loyal friends working undercover in Absalom's court, including Hushai (II Samuel 16:18; see also II Samuel 15:31-37). Hushai's loyalty to David was so strong that Absalom was suspicious of him (II Samuel 16:16-17). Therefore, Hushai had to convince Absalom that he was siding with the new king (II Samuel 16:18-19).
When it came time for advice on his next step, Absalom turned to Ahithophel, who recommended that Absalom publicly take possession of David's concubines (II Samuel 16:20-21). This act would serve two purposes: first, it would demonstrate to everyone that Absalom was claiming the throne; and second, it would humiliate David, eliminating any possibility of reconciliation between father and son. Tragically, Absalom followed Ahithophel's advice to the letter (II Samuel 16:22), committing a heinous act that would have far-reaching consequences.
This chapter underscores the devastating consequences of betrayal and rebellion. David's experience reminds us of the importance of humility, discernment, and trusting in God's sovereignty, even in the face of immense adversity. It also serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of pride, ambition, and seeking counsel from those who do not have our best interests at heart.
And when David was a little past the top of the hill, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of asses saddled, and upon them two hundred loaves of bread, and an hundred bunches of raisins, and an hundred of summer fruits, and a bottle of wine.
And the king said unto Ziba, What meanest thou by these? And Ziba said, The asses be for the king’s household to ride on; and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat; and the wine, that such as be faint in the wilderness may drink.
And the king said, And where is thy master’s son? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem: for he said, To day shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father.
Then said the king to Ziba, Behold, thine are all that pertained unto Mephibosheth. And Ziba said, I humbly beseech thee that I may find grace in thy sight, my lord, O king.
And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, thence came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera: he came forth, and cursed still as he came.
And he cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David: and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left.
And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial:
The Lord hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and the Lord hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son: and, behold, thou art taken in thy mischief, because thou art a bloody man.
Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head.
And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? so let him curse, because the Lord hath said unto him, Curse David. Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so?
And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the Lord hath bidden him.
It may be that the Lord will look on mine affliction, and that the Lord will requite me good for his cursing this day.
And as David and his men went by the way, Shimei went along on the hill’s side over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and cast dust.
And the king, and all the people that were with him, came weary, and refreshed themselves there.
And Absalom, and all the people the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him.
And it came to pass, when Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, was come unto Absalom, that Hushai said unto Absalom, God save the king, God save the king.
And Absalom said to Hushai, Is this thy kindness to thy friend? why wentest thou not with thy friend?
And Hushai said unto Absalom, Nay; but whom the Lord, and this people, and all the men of Israel, choose, his will I be, and with him will I abide.
And again, whom should I serve? should I not serve in the presence of his son? as I have served in thy father’s presence, so will I be in thy presence.
Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, Give counsel among you what we shall do.
And Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Go in unto thy father’s concubines, which he hath left to keep the house; and all Israel shall hear that thou art abhorred of thy father: then shall the hands of all that are with thee be strong.
So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house; and Absalom went in unto his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.
And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled in those days, was as if a man had enquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.
II Samuel 16 unveils a chapter of betrayal, cursing, and strategic maneuvering amidst David's flight from Jerusalem. As David flees from his rebellious son Absalom, the chapter highlights the depths of treachery he faces, the surprising reactions he exhibits, and the unfolding political landscape in Jerusalem. This chapter offers profound insights into human nature, divine sovereignty, and the consequences of sin.
Ziba's Deception (II Samuel 16:1-4)
As David continued his eastward flight away from Jerusalem, toward the Jordan River, he was met by Ziba, the former servant of Saul whom David had appointed to serve Jonathan’s son, Mephibosheth (II Samuel 16:1; see also II Samuel 9:1-13). Ziba's arrival was unexpected, prompting David to inquire about his presence and the provisions he brought (II Samuel 16:2). The king had apparently expected to see Mephibosheth himself.
Ziba seized this opportunity to slander Mephibosheth. He falsely claimed that Mephibosheth was staying in Jerusalem, hoping for the restoration of Saul's kingdom (II Samuel 16:3). This was disturbing news to David, as it implied treason. Tragically, David believed Ziba and reversed his earlier decision regarding Saul's estate (see II Samuel 9:9), granting all of Mephibosheth's possessions to Ziba (II Samuel 16:4). This hasty judgment reveals David's vulnerability during this tumultuous time. Later, Mephibosheth would testify that Ziba had slandered him to the king (see II Samuel 19:24-30), highlighting the dangers of acting on incomplete information.
Shimei's Curses (II Samuel 16:5-14)
Further along his sorrowful journey, David encountered Shimei, a man from the family of Saul, who hurled curses and stones at David and his entourage (II Samuel 16:5-6). Shimei accused the fleeing king of being a man of bloodshed and wickedness (II Samuel 16:7), falsely blaming him for the blood of Saul's house (II Samuel 16:8), despite David's innocence in that regard.
Shimei's audacity was astonishing, given David's power. Abishai, one of David's loyal men, was ready to silence Shimei permanently, asking, "Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and remove his head!" (II Samuel 16:9). This was not the first time Abishai had urged David to take violent action (see I Samuel 26:7-11).
However, David demonstrated remarkable restraint and spiritual insight. He recognized Shimei's cursing as a potential rebuke from God, which he felt he needed to hear (II Samuel 16:10). Despite not being guilty of shedding Saul's blood, David acknowledged his own sin and guilt (see II Samuel 11:14-27). Moreover, David reasoned that if his own son was seeking his life, enduring the insults of this man was a lesser burden (II Samuel 16:11). This profound humility and acceptance of God's will in the midst of adversity is a powerful example for us all. After a long and exhausting march, David and his people rested (II Samuel 16:14).
Absalom's Occupation of Jerusalem (II Samuel 16:15-23)
Back in Jerusalem, Absalom and his Israelite followers arrived in what must have been a smug and triumphant parade (II Samuel 16:15). Ahithophel, David's former trusted advisor who had turned traitor, was at Absalom's side. Securing Ahithophel's allegiance was a major victory for Absalom, as Ahithophel's counsel was highly regarded, "like someone asking about a word from God" (II Samuel 16:23). However, God was about to thwart his counsel and use it against Absalom.
David had a few loyal friends working undercover in Absalom's court, including Hushai (II Samuel 16:18; see also II Samuel 15:31-37). Hushai's loyalty to David was so strong that Absalom was suspicious of him (II Samuel 16:16-17). Therefore, Hushai had to convince Absalom that he was siding with the new king (II Samuel 16:18-19).
When it came time for advice on his next step, Absalom turned to Ahithophel, who recommended that Absalom publicly take possession of David's concubines (II Samuel 16:20-21). This act would serve two purposes: first, it would demonstrate to everyone that Absalom was claiming the throne; and second, it would humiliate David, eliminating any possibility of reconciliation between father and son. Tragically, Absalom followed Ahithophel's advice to the letter (II Samuel 16:22), committing a heinous act that would have far-reaching consequences.
This chapter underscores the devastating consequences of betrayal and rebellion. David's experience reminds us of the importance of humility, discernment, and trusting in God's sovereignty, even in the face of immense adversity. It also serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of pride, ambition, and seeking counsel from those who do not have our best interests at heart.